After a great start to the 2023-2024 season, the Vancouver Canucks have to work hard to maintain an advantageous position in the Pacific Section of the National Hockey League (NHL) and a little reinforcement would be welcome.
Earlier this week, their general manager Patrik Allvin sent Quebecer Anthony Beauvillier to the Chicago Blackhawks, freeing up $4.15 million on the team’s payroll. With about $5.73 million in available space, the GM has some room for more depth, particularly on the blue line, according to the CapFriendly website.
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In fact, the Canucks have some cripples in their defensive brigade, be it Carson Soucy, Ethan Bear or Guillaume Brisebois, all of whom have long-term injuries. And it will take more than Noah Juulsen and some other guards to make it easier for bigger players like Quinn Hughes and Tyler Myers, who have significant playing time.
“Do we need another defender? “Yeah, I think we can get some help back,” Allvin told Sportsnet. We have several pieces here, but we need to put the players in a situation where they will succeed. We all know that injuries happen. […] We’re looking for ways to improve.”
According to head coach Rick Tocchet, an early takeover wouldn’t hurt.
“We can’t overuse them,” he admitted Wednesday. We also have to rely on other defenders. [L’instructeur adjoint] Adam Foote always tells me, ‘We need more minutes from the fifth and sixth man.’ We know it.”
The lemon is squeezed
With Soucy out for approximately four to six weeks, Brisebois sidelined indefinitely with a concussion, and Bear undergoing shoulder surgery in June, there don’t appear to be any immediate solutions internally.
The four field players who work in the first two defensive pairs accumulate at least 20 minutes per evening. This also includes Hughes, who was on the ice for an average of 24:45 minutes per game.
Vancouver wants to remedy the situation because the competition promises to be tough. On Thursday, Tocchet’s squad hosts the Vegas Golden Knights: they are one point behind their rivals of the day and at the top of the group. However, the Los Angeles Kings are two points behind the Canucks despite still having three games left.